This is part of the Flying Sister’s Blog Circle – follow it around to find out what movies other women found inspirational. Mine is not a movie, but a documentary series that I have watched more than once!
POWER OF ART is a BBC documentary series by Simon Schama, a professor of art and history at Columbia University. In his own words”
“This is not a series about things that hang on walls, it is not about decor and prettiness. It is a series about the force, the need, the passion of art –
….the power of art.”
“Great art has dreadful manners”
“The hushed reverence of the gallery can fool you into believing masterpieces are polite things; visions that soothe, charm and beguile, but actually they are thugs. Merciless and wily, the greatest paintings grab you in a headlock, rough up your composure, and then proceed in short order to re-arrange your sense of reality.”
He then takes us on an amazing journey, highlighting eight masterpieces, from Caravaggio’s David and Goliath to Picasso’s Guernica. He takes you into the lives of eight great artists, each who faced a crisis and created masterpieces that changed the way we look at both art and the world.
Sometimes told in a “wink wink, nudge nudge”way, you feel as you really get to know each artist and thus understand their world.
Each of the eight episodes examines the biography, the world and a key work with some reenactments:
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Carvaggio – David and the Head of Goliath
- Bernini – The Ecstacy of Saint Teresa
- Rembrandt – The Conspiracy of Claudius Civilis
- David – The Death of Marat
- Turner – The Slave Ship
- van Gogh – Wheatfields and Crows
- Picasso – Guernica
- Rothko – Black on Maroon
Why did I find this series so inspirational?
Take a look at the works below. With the first installment, it begins with an artist – Caravaggio – leaving Rome because he killed a man, I was hooked. The “wink wink” style of storytelling even called Rembrandt “Mr. Cleverclogs”.
This series simply made me want to learn MORE! Below is a small snippet from the Rembrandt episode.
Now, follow the Flying Sisters blog circle around to see other inspirational works. Next up is Lulu Bea – click here to see her inspiration movie! Enjoy your journey.
PS – this is available on Netflix and YouTube
Well, how cool is this? As I learn more and more about Artists from the past, I feel better and better about my quirky self. And that I’m really not “so crazy”. Afterall, I’m in really good company with all my Flyer Sisters. <3
I love your statement: “He takes you into the lives of eight great artists, each who faced a crisis and created masterpieces that changed the way we look at both art and the world.” That’s really powerful. I wrote poetry during a significant healing time in my life . . . I suppose this is similar. When art comes from those raw, real places within, they speak to others and can impact how we see things. Very cool.
I’ve added it to my netflix queue! Thanks for the rec!!
Thank you Vickie for this inspiration! I’m going to watch this on Netflix…it’s like a visual art class. I LOVE IT.
Thanks for the hedz up – I’ve added it to my queue. It sounds like a powerful exploration and it certainly covers some magnificent works. I can’t wait to dig in and be transported. And how fun to be part of a blog circle playing with such a fun topic!
I love his words. Thank you for sharing them. I have BBC. I’ll have to look for the program. Creative Blessings ~Kel
I love this! It’s so fun to explore the creativity of others!!